I found a property with a 6 month tenancy and have the money to pay entirely upfront. The letting agency used KeySafe to reference me. I’m a US citizen on a visitor visa. I’m here to process the paperwork to bring my company to the UK and process my family visa. I passed ID check, but they closed the application without allowing me or my accountant to provide my financial information. Failed me and because of this the landlord decided not to continue. I can’t get a hold of the referencing agency, I don’t know what they wrote down on the report and I’m more confused as to why someone would deny tenancy that would be paid in full.
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Is it because you are only on.a visitor visa which will end sooner rather than later
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Do you have a Right to Rent? Have you got a share code?
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No, that wasn’t the reason. I have a right to rent for 6 months which was the length of the tenancy agreement. The reason was because KeySafe lied and didn’t complete the process. And I’m not the only one that they’ve done the same. British citizens having the same issue with them
If that link is from the UK Home Office website you should make sure its given upfront to an agent or landlord. The right to rent legislation is complex and few, (including myself) are likely to be aware of that provision.
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It was given upfront, alongside with my flight schedule and everything before they accepted my holding deposit. I did nothing outside of the procedure. Who’s at fault here is the referencing company for not doing what they were hired for. They closed the application without requesting any financial information and stated that we declined to do so. Thanks for replying. If you are a landlord never use KeySafe for your referencing. They don’t even have a phone number to contact them.
Sorry to hear that. Sounds like they let you down. Id make a formal complaint.
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When you say Keysafe lied, what did the say that was untrue?
How long did they give you to input your financial details (eg what date did they send the original request and what date did they close your application)?
The same day that the letting agent requested the referencing, KeySafe closed it and marked it complete. When I inquired the letting agent about the results they said the reason we failed was because we didn’t provide our financial information. When my accountant opened the link (same day- 22nd) it was closed. The only thing they asked me for was my accountant’s email address.
I don’t know about this particular agency but I have to say that a right to rent for 6 months is a very short time and presents a risk for a landlord. In the UK, if you decided to be awkward, it could take the landlord another year to get you out of the property so although the tenancy would technically be paid in full, actually the landlord is at risk for a further year after that. The shortest right to rent period I have experienced as a landlord is 12 months and that person wasn’t the one earning the money to pay the rent. So I am not saying this is what happened in your case but explaining how I, as a landlord, would view your application in general.
I hope this is helpful
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I appreciate your insights. However, in this case, the tenancy advertised was for only 6 months. It wasn’t something I requested. I now understand better about landlord’s insurance and more about the UK housing regulations and I understand why a landlord would feel uneasy. My frustration is not towards the landlord, it was the referencing company that closed the application the same day without allowing us to show our financials. They offer manual referencing but don’t deliver on what they sell. To me, that’s robbery. Because of KeySafe the landlord missed on having the 6 months paid up front and a potential buyer. I definitely don’t want to (try) do business with them again.
I loved the house and I would’ve loved purchasing the property after the tenancy ended but God must have something better for us.
Thanks for taking your time to share your thoughts. 
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Thats not the case Judy10. If a tenant has 1 more day of a right to rent, the landlotd may grant a tenancy of up to 12 months. They would need to re-check the right to rent at the end of that period and if there is no further r2r, they simply inform the Home Office and begin eviction proceedings using either s21 or the bespoke s8 ground. This would naintain their statutory excuse.
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Good luck in finding something much better and ,more suitable and request that they don’t use KeySafe as a referencing company. If you have the time i’d definitely make a formal complaint to them.
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